TUESDAY!!

I will be in Charleston on Tuesday. I am only going to be there for few hours so I don't have time to get lunch. I would love to say hello if you are available and want to stop by.

I will be at Starbucks

(5060 International Blvd
North Charleston, SC 29406)

from 12:30pm - 1:45pm.

If you come, please buy some coffee or something. Let's not be the annoying Christians that packed out the Starbucks and bought two drinks. Instead let's make them ask what's going on and make Jesus famous, not ashamed of us!!

I look forward to meeting some of you!

See you Tuesday!

Got My Attention

This really jumped off the page at me this morning as I was reading. I hope it speaks to you as well.

Make it personal! Read it as if you were writing it!

¹² I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me trustworthy, appointing me to his service. ¹³ Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. ¹⁴ The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.

¹⁵ Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. ¹⁶ But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life. ¹⁷ Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen. I Timothy 1:12-17

This was my prayer today. I hope it can and will be your's as well!

Thankful for His grace and humble to be in His service.

Pray for...

There are a few things I want to bring to your attention to pray for this week.

The first is a proposal.

I'm hoping to hear this week from a location that we have looked at for the Charleston Campus. They have been putting together numbers and estimates for us to use their facility and have told me we should hear from them soon. Pray that we get the proposal this week ('cause I'm impatient) and that the price and availability will work for us. That's all I'll tell you for now about that.

The second is for some specific people from our other campuses.

I have been blown away by the responses I have received from people wanting to be a part of the church and help NewSpring Charleston. I can't wait to get going.

Some of the stories that have really floored me are those from people who currently attend one of our other campuses who have felt that God has called them to move to Charleston. I've received emails from every campus with people doing this. They are selling houses, quitting jobs, and moving their families in obedience to what God wants. I love that amount of faith. I try to live everyday asking the question: God what do you want me to do today? I don't succeed in being obedient every day, but I do try!

I ask that you pray for these families as they sell houses and look for jobs. Pray for them to hang in there and to experience the great faithfulness of our God as a result.

And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus To our God and Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen. Philippians 4:19-20

Easter

This has been an interesting weekend for me. For the last 10 years the holiday service schedule is not one I would say I looked forward to. I remember one year we had something like 18 Christmas Eve services, and in the moment I thought only about the number. I missed out many years on the thought of the opportunity and the need for that many extra services.

One of my favorite phrases is, "You don't know what you've got till it's gone." This Easter I find myself thinking a lot about that phrase. As I read on Twitter today about all the amazing things God did in His church, I only attended one service. For me it felt like an athlete must feel when all he knows is the game he loves and plays everyday, but he has been sidelined by an injury. I am not injured, but this Easter I was "out of the game". I was a spectator only. I missed it! I can not wait to get back in the "game"!

Charleston Campus: in these moments of missing out today I praised God for what He was doing, and I prayed for next Easter when will be experiencing our first Easter together. That blows me away to think about that. This time next year we will be meeting together. I don't know when will start yet, but I know it will be before Easter. God has some great things in store, and I'm excited I get to be a part of it. I hope you were able to celebrate our RISEN Savior today.

The best is yet to come!!

The Story of Zac Smith

If you haven't seen this, I want to make sure you do!

"TO GOD BE THE GLORY"

I have thought about that phrase just about everyday after seeing this for the first time. I know this will have an impact on your life in some way, and I ask that you pray for Zac and his family as it ministers to you.

The Story of Zac Smith from NewSpring Media on Vimeo.

We are over the century mark!!

Last night we topped 100 names!

Keep them coming and keep praying!

If you sent names, your job isn't over; it just started. Now, pray God would present divine appointments for you to share or talk with these people about your salvation experience. When the moment presents itself (and it will), just share your story. God will show up, you will say things you could never have said, and the name of Jesus will be made famous!! Take courage in knowing that there are people praying for you.

When this happens please let me know about it!

But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, I Peter 3:15